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Whilst the Pacific Islands await a response from the EC on their request to resume EPA negotiations, they prepare to begin negotiations toward a new free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand in August 2009. In this month’s lead article, the Pacific Institute of Public Policy outlines the issues dominating the discussions and discusses the new opportunities and hazards for the islands in these new negotiations.
The news of the postponement of signing the interim EPA in SADC and ESA is not all that bad. Significant progress has been made in areas that in April seemed unlikely, notably in SADC and ESA, and there is officially still hope that ESA could be ready to sign mid-year. The flexibility pronounced by EC Trade Commissioner Ashton has surfaced. But does the flexibility reach far enough?
The Nigerian Association of National Traders (NANTS) argues in its provocative piece about the future of regional integration in West Africa that the current approach to an ECOWAS EPA could lead to the disintegration of the region and thus new flexibility should be urgently considered.
As the global economic crisis relentlessly unfolds Emily Jones argues for greater flexibility in the EPAs to support African countries’ efforts to recover from the crisis and develop economic resilience.
In the second article in the TNI Aid for Trade series, UK based international development consulting company Crown Agents analyses the shortcomings in the Aid for Trade agenda that inhibit the role of the private sector.
The Union for the Mediterranean, created to revive the relationship between Europe and its Mediterranean neighbours, faces very different challenges compared to those faced by sub-Saharan Africa in its relations with the EU. Stephanie Colin asks why the implementation of the plan has slowed.
As always, comments are welcomed and can be addressed to aw@ecdpm.org
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